Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden
Sweden: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 144,116 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
144,116
Change on year
down 11.6%
World rank
42nd
of 183 countries
All-time high
277,726
in 2022
All-time low
17,000
in 1968
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 144,116 for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in 2025.
That represents a change of down 11.6% on the previous year and down 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden peaked at 277,726 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 17,000, in 1968.
That places Sweden 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 44,000 | — |
| 1952 | 42,000 | -4.5% |
| 1953 | 37,000 | -11.9% |
| 1954 | 33,000 | -10.8% |
| 1955 | 28,000 | -15.2% |
| 1956 | 31,000 | +10.7% |
| 1957 | 33,000 | +6.5% |
| 1958 | 31,000 | -6.1% |
| 1959 | 28,000 | -9.7% |
| 1960 | 26,000 | -7.1% |
| 1961 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 26,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 24,000 | -7.7% |
| 1965 | 22,000 | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 20,000 | -9.1% |
| 1967 | 18,000 | -10.0% |
| 1968 | 17,000 | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 17,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 20,000 | +17.6% |
| 1971 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 43,000 | +115.0% |
| 1984 | 90,600 | +110.7% |
| 1985 | 90,600 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 120,000 | +32.5% |
| 1987 | 130,000 | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 139,783 | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 139,783 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 109,654 | -21.6% |
| 1991 | 124,457 | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 131,069 | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 162,386 | +23.9% |
| 1994 | 200,774 | +23.6% |
| 1995 | 199,194 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 191,159 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 186,719 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 178,782 | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 159,504 | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 157,206 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 146,480 | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 142,170 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 112,143 | -21.1% |
| 2004 | 73,383 | -34.6% |
| 2005 | 74,889 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 79,895 | +6.7% |
| 2007 | 75,055 | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 77,016 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 81,346 | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 82,620 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 86,603 | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 92,869 | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 114,172 | +22.9% |
| 2014 | 142,197 | +24.5% |
| 2015 | 169,516 | +19.2% |
| 2016 | 230,158 | +35.8% |
| 2017 | 240,954 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 248,210 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 253,787 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 248,372 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 240,854 | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 277,726 | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 237,632 | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 163,029 | -31.4% |
| 2025 | 144,116 | -11.6% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 144,116 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 12.2× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 144,116 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 2.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +115.0% | 20,000 | 43,000 |
| 1984 | +110.7% | 43,000 | 90,600 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 34,111 | 28,000 | 44,000 | 9 |
| 1960s | 22,200 | 17,000 | 26,000 | 10 |
| 1970s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 81,377 | 20,000 | 139,783 | 10 |
| 1990s | 164,370 | 109,654 | 200,774 | 10 |
| 2000s | 101,958 | 73,383 | 157,206 | 10 |
| 2010s | 166,109 | 82,620 | 253,787 | 10 |
| 2020s | 218,622 | 144,116 | 277,726 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More population data for Sweden
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7238 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1458 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 11,902 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4642 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1484 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.051 (2100)
- Population density 27.91 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 479,660 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Sweden was 144,116 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 277,726 in 2022.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,000 in 1968.
- How does Sweden rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Sweden ranks 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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